The Rising Son

In 2008, FX’s Sons of Anarchy rode onto TV screens around the world. The crime-drama about a close-knit motorcycle club became an almighty overnight hit. A real anthology of human transformation, it mixed themes of brotherhood, loyalty and the trials of life into gritty storylines of drugs, guns and redemption. The series won Golden Globes for its leading actors, was nominated for an Outstanding Achievement in Drama at the TCA’s and has a remarkable reputation in viewer ratings, with the final season bringing in 6.7 million views from around the globe.

After its ending in 2014, fans waited eagerly for any sign or clue from FX of a Sons of Anarchy reunion and on the 4th of September this year, they were given what they hoped for. Written by Sons of Anarchy creator, Karl Sutter, Mayans M.C. is the spin-off to the original series. Set two and a half years after the events in Sons of Anarchy, the new FX show tells of the Latino Mayan Motorcycle Club in the fictional Californian town of Santa Pedro. The protagonist, EZ is driven towards vengeance as he enters into the world he never intended or hoped for.

J.D. Pardo – who plays EZ – is a fearless actor and has had a number of diverse roles in his career. Born in Panorama City in 1980, Pardo grew up with the desire of becoming a Hollywood actor and made his acting debut in the series, Hope Ranch. He’s played in shows such as Revolution, CSI: Miami, 90210, Veronica Mars, My Wife and Kids and The OC, to name but a few. He’s also acted in films such as Snitch, The Burning Plain and Supercross. His style of acting allows him to successfully execute his characters with confidence, whilst also keeping himself (when not working) grounded and, in all honesty, a really genuinely nice guy. There’s that drive too, where he makes sure to only play roles that challenge him. M2 sat down to chat with J.D. on his Australian tour to talk acting, Mayans M.C. and his achievements in the industry.

Firstly, what does J.D. stand for?

J.D. are my initials and they stand for Jorge Daniel. I had changed it to J.D. after I started acting because I just had some problems being seen and getting auditions.

I guess I didn’t really look like the ‘typical Latino’ and I was a little too ethnic for all the Caucasian roles. It’s funny, the second I changed it to J.D. I started getting noticed more.

What first got you into acting?

As I boy, I was just always fascinated with movies and my parents used to take me to the theatre. Back then, it was a really big thing and such a treat – getting taken to that world. It wasn’t until I was in my teen years and my parents got divorced that I really discovered how to be.

Admittedly, I was very angry at times. I did have some problems – I caused most of them – and I found theatre to be a place where everything I had inside me was allowed to just come out. It was this release.

I was 15 at the time and I found something that was very positive and productive in it. It saved me.

How do you prepare for a role?

There’s a lot of things that I do. One of my all-time favorite actors is Mr. Daniel Day-Lewis and I study what he does because he just loses himself in a role.

When I’m preparing, I read the script and I use whatever pops into my head. I write it down and then I think of its need and heartbeat. What does the character want? I also take inspiration from animals – that gives me a framework for the body, for movement. I’m from the [San Fernando] Valley, man, so if I don’t do this I’m gonna be walking around like a ‘Californian’.

I then work on the voice to get the character to speak. It’s a process, it’s also a lot of fun.

Have you always been a Sons of Anarchy fan?

I had heard about Sons of Anarchy through my friends. I always said I’d get around to watching it and it wasn’t until I heard that Mayans M.C. was coming out and it was going to be this follow-up to the original show that I started watching it. My mind was officially blown.

In doing my homework, I became an instant fan. I needed to be a part of Mayans somehow.

Explain your Mayans M.C. character, Ezekiel (aka EZ).

EZ is a prospect of the Mayans Motorcycle Club and that’s how he’s introduced in the pilot. The audience learns through the flashbacks that he was the golden boy of his community. He’s super smart and has this crazy photographic memory.

He was going to Stanford and has his high school sweetheart and really living the American dream as an immigrant of Los Angeles. Through some tragic events, he winds up in prison for about eight years and that really changes his life.

When he comes out, you see that he has a job to do as this prospect. I think his internal struggle is that he’s just filled with shame and he’s trying to figure out what life is really like for him.

What can we expect to see in the rest of the season?

EZ can’t really say too much or do too much because there are rules in the gang. Audiences are going to find throughout the first season that the Mayans are just trying to survive. They’re basically trying to find a way to not get caught up in this war between the rebels and the cartel.

Within that, EZ is trying to lead his own life, but he’s caught up in his brothers shenanigans. He’s just trying to make sure that his family are safe too.

So it’s a real journey and a lot of questions will be answered. Along with what actually happened to EZ. Why did he end up in prison? And ultimately, how is he going to deal with it?

Did you already know how to ride a motorcycle or did you have to learn?

No, I really didn’t. It was funny because in the audition you want to check all the boxes, but I felt like I wasn’t checking any of them.

Fortunately, it wasn’t much of a problem. They sent me over to the Harley [Davidson] school in Glendale, California where I spent a weekend and I got my permit. I had to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles next and then I was fully licensed. I can now get on that Softail Deluxe and just ride around the parking lot and impress myself.

I’m definitely motivated by the Sons of Anarchy fans because I know that what we’re representing really is the bike culture. The last thing that I want to do is come across as a fraud to them. I really respect them and I want them to know that I can ride well.

You’re part of a pretty amazing cast of actors. What’s it like to be working with such legends of the industry?

It’s a dream come true. I am a student, I will always be a student. I never really went to a real drama school. So, for me, I’ve learned from the actors and directors that I’ve worked with. I had always been jealous of people that had worked with the greats because that’s how they feel gets them better. And it’s true, it’s how you really get a sense of the craft.

So to work with the great Edward James Olmos with his legendary status, I’ve learnt an awful lot. That’s another fun part of my job – I get to listen to his stories.

What do you hold as your biggest achievement as an actor?

I think being in Mayans M.C. is my biggest achievement so far. The fact that I’m able to say that I can make a career out of this – which is sometimes quite difficult – with a formula that I think works pretty well.

Also luck comes into it. I’ve been very lucky. I’ve always wanted to be in this position and I care about what I do. I care about what I’m working for and what I’m representing. It’s also an opportunity to be there for the cast and to lift them up too.

I’ve always dreamed about not just being a great method actor like Daniel Day Lewis, but to also just create.

What motivates you to create?

I suppose, deep down, I’m still that boy in the movie theatre dreaming of being a great. To be honest, I may never achieve that. Right before I started acting, when I decided I wasn’t going to go to college, I was working full-time at a trophy shop and I made myself a ‘Best Actor’ trophy so I wouldn’t go chasing awards or anything material.

I just wanted to feel like I considered myself as one of the greats. I pushed for that and I think back to that a lot. I do study actors and that will never stop. What motivates me is knowing that I’ve carved a place out for myself.

What is one character (existing or non-existing) that you would love to play?

Daniel Day Lewis did a movie called My Left Foot and I thought about how challenging that would be physically and mentally.

That character reminds me of when I was working at the trophy shop. This guy who worked in the same shopping area was in a car accident and was in a coma as a result. When he woke several weeks later, he had some brain damage and he had to rebuild himself. He had to learn how to walk and speak again.

It was unbelievable watching this process and I always thought about the challenge of being so limited physically. So that would be the role, where the character has to regain a sense of themselves through a physical and mental trauma.

What goals do you have planned for the future?

I have nothing planned yet. I just feel so blessed being in the now. As the ratings are coming in, the team from FX can see that the series is doing very well. It’s given me more opportunities too.

So right now, I’m taking my time and reading scripts. I’m a very, very, very picky person and I say no way too much, even when it’s at the detriment of my own financial well-being.

I’m passionate about what I do so I need to really delve inside the role and see if it’s something I can do right. I’m focusing on some writing too and I want to direct. I’d love to get on the other side of the camera.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

I’ll always remember this. There was a older man I met at the gym, he said he was a professor of some sort and we’d always talk about life when we saw each other.

One time, I was saying how I needed to be more disciplined and I was explaining how hard I thought discipline is for anyone. I think we all put this negative spin on that word. It’s very important for any sort of success.

After telling him this, he replied with: “Discipline is the pathway to nobility. If you put any two people together and look at them, you will know who the most disciplined out of the two is”. I loved that. I thought about what he said in terms of my own presence, my own energy and mindset. I definitely want to try to be the most disciplined and noble person for my own self and for everyone around me.